Chapter 59—Suitable Reading for Children Dear Brother E,I have just read the Review and Herald and have seen your article giving a list of good books for our youth. I was much surprised to read your recommendation of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Robinson Crusoe, and such books. You are in danger of becoming somewhat careless in your writing. It would be well to give thought and careful study to whatever is to be immortalized in print. I am really alarmed to see that your spiritual eyesight is not more clear in the matter of selecting and recommending reading for our youth. I know that the recommendation in our papers of such infatuating books as Uncle Tom’s Cabin will in many minds justify the reading of other books which are nothing but fiction.... This recommendation will make taxing work for those who are laboring to persuade the youth to discard fictitious reading. I have repeatedly seen the evil of reading such books as you recommend, and have an article all prepared, cautioning our youth in this very matter. {5T 516.1}

Kære bror E: Jeg har netop læst Review and Herald og har set din artikel med en liste over gode bøger for vore unge. Jeg var meget overrasket over at læse din anbefaling af Onkel Toms hytte, Robinson Cruse og sådanne bøger. Du skal passe på med, hvad du skriver. Det ville være godt at tage et tankefuldt og åndeligt studie, i hvad der foreviges i trykken. Jeg er virkelig foruroliget over at se, at jeres åndelige øjesyn ikke er klarere, når I vælger og anbefaler læsestof til vore unge. Jeg ved at når vore blade anbefaler så forblindende bøger som Onkel Toms hytte vil mange mennesker retfærdiggøre læsningen af andre bøger som, ikke er andet end fiktion. . . . Denne anbefaling vil belaste arbejdet for dem, som forsøger at overbevise unge til at aflægge fiktionslitteratur. Jeg har gentagende gange set onderne i at læse sådanne bøger som du anbefaler og har allerede forberedt en artikel, der advarer de unge i denne sag.